One of the best ways to grow your company is to grow your
people--that is, increase their value and loyalty by guiding them
along their own professional paths, says Genie Snyder, founder of
Snyder Remarks ETC, a business consulting and organizational
training firm in Athens, Georgia. Ways to do that include:

*Creating position summaries and descriptions for each
job.Include both the tasks and skills the job requires, along
with the necessary personal characteristics (such as working
without supervision or the ability to make decisions quickly).

Developing a strategy for each employee to reach his or her
goals.Have employees work with their supervisors to map out
what they need to do, such as taking classes or reading certain
materials, to get where they want to go. Although you'll be
supportive, be clear that individuals are responsible for
implementing their own strategies.

Establishing internal internships and mentoring
programs.Encourage senior staffers to spend time with junior
personnel so everyone will have a better understanding of the
overall operation and how all the jobs connect. This will also help
people to learn about positions they may eventually hold.

Jacquelyn Lynn left the corporate world more than 12 years
ago and has been writing about business and management from her
home office in Winter Park, Florida, ever since.

Small Talk, Big Results

The art of polite conversation

Whether the situation is formal or informal, familiar or
unfamiliar, in the office or out, feeling more comfortable with
your conversational skills will increase the likelihood that
you'll make a positive impression, says Randi Freidig, a
speaker and trainer in Seattle.

"Most people think of small talk as inconsequential,
unimportant and a waste of time, but it's really the
opposite," Freidig says. "Small talk helps build rapports
and eventually trust. It helps people find common ground on which
to base meaningful conversation."

Begin with advance preparation. "Any time you're going
to be with people, whether it's at a chamber of commerce event
or a wedding, have goals," Freidig advises. Do you want to
find a particular resource, identify a prospective customer or
expand your horizons in another way?

With your goals in mind, think about what you're going to
say--both the questions you'll ask and the answers you'll
give. "Inevitably, if you run into people you already know,
they'll say `What's new?' And most people say
`Nothing,' and drop the conversational ball," Freidig
says. Instead, have an answer that will help you start a short
conversation. For example, you might say "We just added a new
product line, and I'm looking for a sales rep to handle it. Do
you know anyone who's available?" You've shared
something interesting about your company and opened a dialogue that
could produce mutually beneficial results.

Stick 'Em Up

Are you properly displaying the required labor laws?

Chances are you're required to post specific labor-law
information in your workplace, says Joe Lustig, an attorney and
editor with AlignMark Information Publishing in Alexandria,
Virginia. Both the federal government and individual states require
legal postings. In addition, further posters are required for
government contractors and other specific types of businesses. And
remember, says Lustig, if you operate in more than one state, you
may have to follow different laws at each of your locations.

Failure to properly display posters can mean fines of $100 per
violation, says Lustig, along with the inconvenience and cost of
intrusive investigations from various Labor Department
agencies.

To make sure your federal labor law postings are correct, check
with the U.S. Department of Labor at (202) 219-8211 or visit the
agency's Web site at http://www.dol.gov For information on
state requirements, contact your state's labor department.